Recognize how a better understanding of skin T cell responses may lead to better vaccines

Description:
Advances in the understanding of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis have led to novel therapies and new insights into human immune responses in the skin. We will discuss the critical interplay of the immune system and epithelial barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis and novel work showing a definitive role for IL-17 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We will review recent studies regarding T cell protection of barrier tissues and how these findings might lead to better vaccines. Lastly, we will discuss the newly described subset of T cells that produce IL-9 and emerging their role in human immune responses.